WHAT THE WORDS MEAN

Also called pay or vacate, eviction notice

The notice for unpaid rent, utilities or recurring charges, in the form the statute sets out, giving 14 days to pay or vacate.

Also called two party consent, recording a conversation

The consent of all the participants, needed before recording a private communication or conversation. It is considered obtained when one party announces to all the others that the conversation is about to be recorded, and the announcement is recorded too.

Also called fleeing police, eluding

Willfully failing to stop and driving recklessly while eluding a pursuing police vehicle after a signal from an officer in uniform with lights and sirens, a class C felony.

Also called just cause eviction, good cause

One of the causes the statute lists, without which a landlord may not evict a tenant, refuse to continue a tenancy, or end a periodic tenancy, apart from narrow exceptions for qualifying fixed term leases.

Also called debt collector

A business collecting debts for others, which may not harass, call or text a cell phone more than twice a day unless responding, or sue on a debt it knows is past the statute of limitations.

Also called CPL, carry permit

The license, good for five years, the chief of police or sheriff issues within thirty days to an eligible applicant at least twenty one, without which a pistol may not be carried concealed outside one's home or business.

Also called CPA, deceptive practices

The act making unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts in trade or commerce unlawful, under which a person injured in their business or property recovers actual damages, costs and a reasonable attorney's fee.

Also called trespassing

Knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully in a building, the first degree, or in or upon other premises of another, the second degree.

Also called lethal force

Force a peace officer may use only when necessary to protect against an immediate threat of serious physical injury or death, meaning it is objectively reasonable to believe the person has the present and apparent ability, opportunity and intent to cause it.

Also called DUI, drunk driving, THC

Driving with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher, or a THC concentration of 5.00 or higher, within two hours after driving, or while under the influence of or affected by liquor, cannabis or any drug.

Also called officer intervention

An on duty peace officer's duty, on witnessing another officer using or attempting excessive force, to intervene when in a position to do so and to render aid to anyone injured.

Also called summons, court papers

The summons telling the tenant to appear and answer by a deadline; its form says the court may appoint a lawyer without cost to a qualifying low income renter.

Also called double wages

Twice the amount withheld, which an employer that willfully and with intent to deprive pays an employee less than owed is liable for, with costs and a reasonable attorney's fee.

Also called deposit statement, itemized deductions

The statement of the basis for keeping any of the deposit, with copies of estimates or invoices for damage charges and any refund due, given within 30 days after the agreement ends and the tenant moves out.

Also called wage garnishment

Taking part of a debtor's week's earnings, with the greater of a set multiple of the minimum hourly wage or a share of disposable earnings left exempt; for a consumer debt it is eighty percent.

Also called GM

The crime level between a misdemeanor and a felony, punishable by up to three hundred sixty four days in jail, a fine up to five thousand dollars, or both.

Also called threats

Knowingly threatening, without lawful authority, to cause bodily injury, damage property, or confine someone, where the words or conduct place the person in reasonable fear the threat will be carried out.

Also called home exemption

The protection of a home from creditors, worth the greater of $125,000 or the county's median sale price of a single family home in the preceding year.

Also called breath test refusal

The warning after an arrest of the right to refuse the breath test and to additional tests of one's choosing, and that refusing means the license will be revoked or denied for at least one year.

Also called no fault divorce, dissolution

What a petition for dissolution alleges about the marriage; the court proceeds once ninety days have passed since the petition was filed and the respondent was served.

Also called alimony, spousal support

Support the court may order for either spouse or domestic partner, in amounts and for periods it deems just, weighing the factors the section lists.

Also called fired for cause

A reason for discharge or suspension connected with the work that disqualifies a claimant for ten calendar weeks, and until earning ten times the weekly benefit amount.

Also called condition checklist, inventory

The written checklist, given at the start of the tenancy and signed and dated by both, describing the condition of the walls, floors, furniture and appliances. A landlord may collect a deposit only with one and a written rental agreement.

Also called two days notice, landlord entering

At least two days' written notice of the landlord's intent to enter, stating the date and time and a number to call, except in an emergency or where impracticable; one day is enough to show the unit.

Also called obstruction

Willfully hindering, delaying or obstructing a law enforcement officer in the discharge of official duties, a gross misdemeanor.

Also called alcohol in the car

An opened or partly emptied container of alcohol in a vehicle on a highway, a traffic infraction unless kept in the trunk or, with no trunk, an area not normally occupied by the driver or passengers.

Also called custody, residential schedule

The plan whose residential provisions the court sets by the factors the statute lists, giving the greatest weight to the strength, nature and stability of the child's relationship with each parent.

Also called phone while driving, hands free law

A device it is a traffic infraction to use while driving on a public highway; holding it in either hand, composing, reading or browsing beyond a minimal touch, and watching video are all using it.

Also called restraining order, DVPO

An order of one of the kinds the statute lists, among them domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, vulnerable adult and extreme risk protection orders.

Also called public records act

A record each agency makes available for inspection and copying unless a specific exemption applies.

Also called fix it and deduct

Having the work done by a licensed or responsible person and deducting the cost from rent, after the landlord does not start repairs in time and has had a chance to inspect, up to two months' rent per repair and in any twelve month period.

Also called resisting

Intentionally preventing or attempting to prevent a peace officer from lawfully arresting oneself, a misdemeanor.

Also called retaliatory eviction

A landlord's eviction, rent increase, reduction of services, or increase of the tenant's obligations against a tenant who in good faith complained to a government authority or asserted the tenant's rights.

Also called small claims court

The court that hears claims of up to ten thousand dollars for a natural person, where no attorney takes part without the judge's consent.

Also called following, tracking

Intentionally and repeatedly harassing or following someone, or contacting, following, tracking or monitoring them after actual notice that they do not want it, causing fear a reasonable person would feel.

Also called shoplifting, petty theft

Theft of property or services worth not more than $750, a gross misdemeanor.

Also called ticket, notice of infraction

A noncriminal violation for which an officer may detain a person a reasonable time to identify them, check for warrants, check the license, insurance and registration, and issue the notice of infraction.

Also called lockout, utility shutoff

A landlord's removing or excluding a tenant without a court order, which is unlawful; intentionally cutting a tenant's water, heat, electricity or gas, except briefly for repairs, is too.

Also called marijuana, weed

Cannabis a person 21 or older may lawfully possess in the amounts retail stores may sell, among them one ounce of useable cannabis and seven grams of concentrate.

Also called expungement, clearing a record

Applying to the sentencing court to clear a conviction after the waiting period; once a felony record is vacated, the person may state, including on job applications, that they have never been convicted of that crime.